Summer Olympics 1896-1960

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1896

1896 Olympics – Athens

The ruins of ancient Olympia were excavated by the German archaeologist Ernst Curtius from 1875-81.

Among the remains uncovered was the ancient stadium where the original Olympic Games were celebrated from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D., when Roman emperor Theodosius I banned all pagan festivals.

Athletics played an important role in the religious festivals of the ancient Greeks, who believed competitive sports pleased the spirits of the dead. The festivals honoring gods like Zeus were undertaken by many Greek tribes and cities and usually held every four years.

During the first 13 Olympiads (an Olympiad is an interval of four years between celebrations of the Olympic Games), the only contested event was a foot race of 200 yards. Longer races were gradually introduced and by 708 B.C., field events like the discus, javelin throw and the long jump were part of the program. Wrestling and boxing followed and in 640 B.C., four-horse chariot races became a fixture at the Games.

During the so-called Golden Age of Greece, which most historians maintain lasted from 477 to 431 B.C., Olympia was considered holy ground. Victorious athletes gave public thanks to the gods and were revered as heroes. Three-time winners had statues erected in their likeness and received various gifts and honors, including exemption from taxation.

Eventually, however, winning and the rewards that went with victory corrupted the original purpose of the Ancient Games. Idealistic amateurs gave way to skilled foreign athletes who were granted the citizenship needed to compete and were paid handsomely by rich Greek gamblers.

There is evidence to suggest that the Games continued until the temples of Olympia were physically demolished in 426 A.D. by a Roman army sent by Theodosius II. Over the next 15 centuries, earthquakes and floods buried the site, until its discovery in 1875.

On June 23, 1894, French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin, speaking at the Sorbonne in Paris to a gathering of international sports leaders from nine nations— including the United States and Russia— proposed that the ancient Games be revived on an international scale. The idea was enthusiastically received and the Modern Olympics, as we know them, were born.

The first Olympiad was celebrated two years later in Athens, where an estimated 245 athletes (all men) from 14 nations competed in the ancient Panathenaic stadium before large and ardent crowds.

Americans won nine of the 12 track and field events, but Greece won the most medals with 47. The highlight was the victory by native peasant Spiridon Louis in the first marathon race, which was run over the same course covered by the Greek hero Pheidippides after the battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.

Event   Time
 100m Tom Burke, USA 12.0
  Fritz Hofmann, GER 12.2
  Alajos Szokolyi, HUN 12.6
 400m Tom Burke, USA 54.2
  Herbert Jamison, USA 55.2
  Fritz Hofmann, GER 55.6
 800m Teddy Flack, AUS 2:11.0
  Nandor Dani, HUN 2:11.8
  Dimitrios Golemis, GRE 2:28.0
1500m Teddy Flack, AUS 4:33.2
  Arthur Blake, USA 4:34.0
  Albin Lermusiaux, FRA 4:36.0
Marathon Spiridon Louis, GRE 2:58:50
  Charilaos Vasilakos, GRE 3:06:03
  Gyula Kellner, HUN 3:09:35
110m H Tom Curtis, USA 17.6
  Grantley Goulding, GBR 18.0
Event   Mark
High Jump Ellery Clark, USA 5-111/4
  James B. Connolly, USA 5-5
  Robert Garrett, USA 5-5
Pole Vault William Hoyt, USA 10-10
  Albert Tyler, USA 10-6
  Evangelos Damaskos, GRE 8-61/4
Long Jump Ellery Clark, USA 20-10
  Robert Garrett, USA 20-31/4
  James B. Connolly, USA 20-01/2
Triple Jump James Connolly, USA 44-113/4
  Alexandre Tuffere, FRA 41-8
  Ioannis Persakis, GRE 41-03/4
Shot Put Bob Garrett, USA 36- 93/4
  Militadis Gouskos, GRE 36-9
  Georgios Papasideris, GRE 34-0
Discus Bob Garrett, USA 95- 71/2
  Panagiotis Paraskevopoulos, GRE 95-0
  Sotirios Versis, GRE 91-13/4

1900

1900 Olympics – Paris

The success of the revived Olympics moved Greece to declare itself the rightful host of all future Games, but de Coubertin and the International Olympic Committee were determined to move the athletic feast around. In France, however, the Games were overshadowed by the brand new Eiffel Tower and all but ignored by the organizers of the 1900 Paris Exposition.

Despite their sideshow status, the Games attracted 1,225 athletes from 26 nations and enjoyed more publicity, if not bigger crowds, than in Athens.

University of Pennsylvania roommates Alvin Kraenzlein, Irving Baxter and John Tewksbury and Purdue grad Ray Ewry dominated the 23 track and field events, winning 11 and taking five seconds and a third. Kraenzlein remains the only track and fielder to win four individual titles in one year. Women were invited to compete for the first time and Britain’s Charlotte Cooper won the singles and mixed doubles in tennis.

No gold medals were given out in Paris. Winners received silver medals with bronze for second place.

Event   Time  
  60m Alvin Kraenzlein, USA 7.0 WR
  John W. Tewksbury, USA 7.1  
  Stanley Rowley, AUS 7.2  
 100m Frank Jarvis, USA 11.0 OR
  John W. Tewksbury, USA 11.1  
  Stanley Rowley, AUS 11.2  
 200m John W. Tewksbury, USA 22.2  
  Norman Pritchard, IND 22.8  
  Stanley Rowley, AUS 22.9  
 400m Maxey Long, USA 49.4 OR
  William Holland, USA 49.6  
  Ernst Schultz, DEN    
 800m Alfred Tysoe, GBR 2:01.2  
  John Cregan, USA 2:03.0  
  David Hall, USA    
1500m Charles Bennett, GBR 4:06.2 WR
  Henri Deloge, FRA 4:06.6  
  John Bray, USA 4:07.2  
Marathon Michel Théato, FRA 2:59:45  
  Emile Champion, FRA 3:04:17  
  Ernst Fast, SWE 3:37:14  
110m H Alvin Kraenzlein, USA 15.4 OR
  John McLean, USA 15.5  
  Fred Moloney, USA 15.6  
200m H Alvin Kraenzlein, USA 25.4  
  Norman Pritchard, IND 26.6  
  John W. Tewksbury, USA    
400m H John W. Tewksbury, USA 57.6  
  Henri Tauzin, FRA 58.3  
  George Orton, CAN    
3000m
Steeple		 George Orton, CAN 7:34.4  
  Sidney Robinson, GBR 7:38.0  
  Jacques Chastanié    
4000m
Steeple		 John Rimmer, GBR 12:58.4  
  Charles Bennett, GBR 12:58.6  
  Sidney Robinson, GBR 12:58.8  
5000m
Team		 GBR (Charles Bennett, John Rimmer,
Sidney Robinson, Alfred Tysoe,
Stanley Rowley)		 26 pts  
  France 29 pts  
Event Mark  
High Jump Irving Baxter, USA 6- 23/4 OR
  Patrick Leahy, GBR/IRE 5- 10  
  Lajos Gönczy, HUN 5- 83/4  
Pole Vault Irving Baxter, USA 10-10  
  Meredith Colkett, USA 10- 73/4  
  Carl-Albert Andersen, NOR 10- 53/4  
Long Jump Alvin Kraenzlein, USA 23- 63/4 OR
  Myer Prinstein, USA 23- 61/4  
  Patrick Leahy, GBR/IRE 22- 91/2  
Triple Jump Meyer Prinstein, USA 47- 53/4 OR
  James Connolly, USA 45- 10  
  Lewis Sheldon, USA 44- 9  
Shot Put Richard Sheldon, USA 46- 3 OR
  Josiah McCracken, USA 42- 13/4  
  Robert Garrett, USA 40- 7  
Discus Rudolf Bauer, HUN 118- 3 OR
  Frantisek Janda-Suk, BOH 115- 71/2  
  Richard Sheldon, USA 113- 6  
Hammer John Flanagan, USA 163- 1  
  Truxton Hare, USA 161- 2  
  Josiah McCracken, USA 139- 31/2  
Standing Mark  
High Jump Ray Ewry, USA 5- 5 WR
  Irving Baxter, USA 5- 0  
  Lewis Sheldon, USA 4- 11  
Long Jump Ray Ewry, USA 10- 61/4  
  Irving Baxter, USA 10- 31/4  
  Emile Torcheboeuf, FRA 9- 111/2  
Triple Jump Ray Ewry, USA 34- 81/2  
  Irving Baxter, USA 32- 8  
  Robert Garrett, USA 31- 2  

1904

1904 Olympics – St. Louis

Originally scheduled for Chicago, the Games were moved to St. Louis and held in conjunction with the centennial celebration of the Louisiana Purchase.

The program included more sports than in Paris, but with only 13 nations sending athletes, the first Olympics to be staged in the United States had a decidedly All-American flavor—over 500 of the 687 competitors were Americans. Little wonder the home team won 80 percent of the medals.

The rout was nearly total in track and field where the U.S.–led by triple-winners Ray Ewry, Archie Hahn, Jim Lightbody and Harry Hillman–took 23 of 25 gold medals and swept 20 events.

The marathon, which was run over dusty roads in brutally hot weather, was the most bizarre event of the Games. Thomas Hicks of the U.S. won, but only after his handlers fed him painkillers during the race. And an impostor nearly stole the victory when Fred Lorz, who dropped out after nine miles, was seen trotting back to the finish line to retrieve his clothes. Amused that officials thought he had won the race, Lorz played along until he was found out shortly after the medal ceremony. Banned for life by the AAU, Lorz was reinstated a year later and won the 1905 Boston Marathon.

Event   Time  
  60m Archie Hahn, USA 7.0 =WR
  William Hogenson, USA 7.2  
  Fay Moulton, USA 7.2  
 100m Archie Hahn, USA 11.0  
  Nathaniel Cartmell, USA 11.2  
  Willaim Hogenson, USA 11.2  
 200m Archie Hahn, USA 21.6 OR
  Nathaniel Cartmell, USA 21.9  
  Willaim Hogenson, USA    
 400m Harry Hillman, USA 49.2 OR
  Frank Waller, USA 49.9  
  Herman Groman, USA 50.0  
 800m Jim Lightbody, USA 1:56.0 OR
  Howard Valentine, USA 1:56.3  
  Emil Breitkreuz, USA 1:56.4  
1500m Jim Lightbody, USA 4:05.4 WR
  W. Frank Verner, USA 4:06.8  
  Lacey Hearn, USA    
Marathon Thomas Hicks, USA 3:28:53  
  Albert Coray, FRA 3:34:52  
  Arthur Newton, USA 3:47:33  
110m H Frederick Schule, USA 16.0  
  Thaddeus Shideler, USA 16.3  
  Lesley Ashburner, USA 16.4  
200m H Harry Hillman, USA 24.6 OR
  Frank Castleman, USA 24.9  
  George Poage, USA    
400m H Harry Hillman, USA 53.0  
  Frank Waller, USA 53.2  
  George Poage, USA    
3000m
Steeple		 Jim Lightbody, USA 7:39.6  
  John Daly, GBR/IRE 7:40.6  
  Arthur Newton, USA    
4-mile Team New York AC (Arthur Newton,
George Underwood, Paul
Pilgrim, Howard Valentine,
David Munson)		 27 pts  
  United States    
  France    
Event   Mark  
High Jump Sam Jones, USA 5-11  
  Garrett Serviss, USA 5- 10  
  Paul Weinstein, GER 5- 10  
Pole Vault Charles Dvorak, USA 11- 53/4  
  LeRoy Samse, USA 11- 3  
  Louis Wilkins, USA 11- 3  
Long Jump Meyer Prinstein, USA 24- 1 OR
  Daniel Frank, USA 22- 71/4  
  Robert Stangland, USA 22- 7  
Triple Jump Meyer Prinstein, USA 47- 1  
  Frederick Englehardt, USA 45- 71/4  
  Robert Stangland, USA 43- 101/4  
Shot Put Ralph Rose, USA 48- 7 WR
  William W. Coe, USA 47- 3  
  Leon Feuerbach, USA 43- 101/2  
56-lb Throw Étienne Desmarteau, CAN 34- 4  
  John Flanagan, USA 27- 101/4  
  James Mitchell, USA 27- 91/2  
Discus Martin Sheridan, USA 128-101/2 OR
  Ralph Rose, USA 128- 101/2  
  Nicolaos Georgantas, GRE 123- 71/2  
Hammer John Flanagan, USA 168- 1 OR
  John DeWitt, USA 164- 101/2  
  Ralph Rose, USA 150- 0  
Triathlon Max Emmerich, USA 35.7 pts  
Decathlon Tom Kiely, IRE 6036 pts  
  Adam Gunn, USA 5907  
  Truxton Hare, USA 5813  
Note: Sheridan won Discus throw-off after tying with Rose for 1st.
Standing   Mark  
High Jump Ray Ewry, USA 5- 3  
  James Stadler, USA 4- 9  
  Lawson Robertson, USA 4- 9  
Long Jump Ray Ewry, USA 11- 47/8 WR
  Charles King, USA 10- 9  
  John Biller, USA 10- 81/2  
Triple Jump Ray Ewry, USA 34- 71/4  
  Charles King, USA 33- 41/2  
  James Stadler, USA 31- 31/2  

1906

1906 Olympics – Athens

After disappointing receptions in Paris and St. Louis, the Olympic movement returned to Athens for the Intercalated Games of 1906.

The mutual desire of Greece and Baron de Coubertin to recapture the spirit of the 1896 Games led to an understanding that the Greeks would host an interim games every four years between Olympics.

Nearly 900 athletes from 20 countries came to Athens, including, for the first time, an official American team picked by the USOC.

As usual, the U.S. dominated track and field, taking 11 of 21 events, including double wins by Martin Sheridan (shot put and freestyle discus), Ray Ewry (standing high and long jumps) and Paul Pilgrim (400 and 800 meters). The previously unknown Pilgrim had been an 11th-hour addition to the team.

Verner Järvinen, the first Finn to compete in the Olympics, won the Greek-style discus throw and placed second in the freestyle discus. He returned home a national hero and inspired Finland to become a future Olympic power.

The Intercalated Games were cancelled due to political unrest in 1910 and never reappeared. Medals won are considered unofficial by the IOC.

Event   Time
 100m Archie Hahn, USA 11.2
 400m Paul Pilgrim, USA 53.2
 800m Paul Pilgrim, USA 2:01.5
1500m Jim Lightbody, USA 4:12.0
5 Miles Henry Hawtrey, GBR 26:11.8
Marathon Billy Sherring, CAN 2:51:23.6
110m H Robert Leavitt, USA 16.2
500m Walk George Bonhag, USA 7:12.6
3000m Walk György Sztantics, HUN 15:13.2
Event   Mark  
High Jump Con Leahy, GBR/IRE 5- 10  
Pole Vault Fernand Gonder, FRA 11- 53/4  
Long Jump Meyer Prinstein, USA 23- 71/2  
Triple Jump Peter O’Connor, GBR/IRE 46- 21/4  
Shot Put Martin Sheridan, USA 40- 51/4  
Stone Throw Nicolaos Georgantas, GRE 65- 41/2  
Discus Martin Sheridan, USA 136- 0  
Greek Discus Verner Järvinen, FIN 115- 41/2  
Freestyle
Javelin		 Eric Lemming, SWE 176-10 WR
Pentathlon Hjalmar Mellander, SWE 24 pts  
Notes: Weight in Stone Throw was 14.08 lbs; spinning not allowed in Greek-style Discus.
Standing   Mark
High Jump Ray Ewry, USA 5- 11/4
Long Jump Ray Ewry, USA 10-10

1908

1908 Olympics – London

The fourth Olympic Games were certainly the wettest and probably the most contentious in history.

Held at a new 68,000-seat stadium in the Shepherds Bush section of London, the 1908 Games were played out under continually rainy skies and suffered from endless arguments between British officials and many of the other countries involved–especially the United States.

“The Battle of Shepherds Bush” began almost immediately, when the U.S. delegation noticed that there was no American flag among the national flags decorating the stadium for the opening ceremonies. U.S. flag bearer and discus champion Martin Sheridan responded by refusing to dip the Stars and Stripes when he passed King Edward VII’s box in the parade of athletes. “This flag dips to no earthly king,” Sheridan said. And it hasn’t since.

The Americans, at least, got to march with their flag. Finland, then ruled by Russia, could not. Informed they would have to use a Russian flag, the furious Finns elected to march with no flag at all.

Once again the marathon proved to be the Games’ most memorable event. Laid out over a 26-mile, 365-yard course that stretched from Windsor Castle to the royal box at Shepherds Bush, the race ended in controversy when leader Dorando Pietri of Italy staggered into the packed stadium, took a wrong turn, collapsed, was helped up by doctors, wobbled and fell three more times before being half-carried across the finish line by race officials. Caught up in the drama of Pietri’s agony, the cheering crowd hardly noticed that he was declared the winner just as second place runner, Johnny Hayes of the U.S., entered the stadium.

Pietri was later disqualified in favor of Hayes, but only after British and U.S. officials argued for an hour and fights had broken out in the stands.

Event   Time  
 100m Reggie Walker, S. Afr. 10.8 =OR
  James Rector, USA 10.9  
  Bobby Kerr, CAN 11.0  
 200m Bobby Kerr, CAN 22.6  
  Robert Cloughen, USA 22.6  
  Nathaniel Cartmell, USA 22.7  
 400m Wyndham Halswelle, GBR 50.0  
 800m Mel Sheppard, USA 1:52.8 WR
  Emilio Lunghi, ITA 1:54.2  
  Hanns Braun, GER 1:55.2  
1500m Mel Sheppard, USA 4:03.4 OR
  Harold Wilson, GBR 4:03.6  
  Norman Hallows, GBR 4:04.0  
5 Miles Emil Voigt, GBR 25:11.2  
  Edward Owen, GBR 25:24.0  
  John Svanberg, SWE 25:37.2  
Marathon Johnny Hayes, USA 2:55:18.4 OR
  Charles Hefferon, S. Afr. 2:56:06.0  
  Joseph Forshaw, USA 2:57:10.4  
110m H Forrest Smithson, USA 15.0 WR
  John Garrels, USA 15.7  
  Arthur Shaw, USA    
400m H Charley Bacon, USA 55.0 WR
  Harry Hillman, USA 55.3  
  Leonard Tremeer, GBR 57.0  
3200m
Steeple		 Arthur Russell, GBR 10:47.8  
  Archie Robertson, GBR 10:48.4  
  John Lincoln Eisele, USA    
3500m Walk George Larner, GBR 14:55.0  
  Ernest Webb, GBR 15:07.4  
  Harry Kerr, NZL 15:43.4  
10-mi Walk George Larner, GBR 1:15:57.4  
  Ernest Webb, GBR 1:17:31.0  
  Edward Spencer, GBR 1:21:20.2  
Medley Relay USA (William Hamilton, Nathaniel
Cartmell, John Taylor,
Mel Sheppard)		 3:29.4  
  Germany 3:32.4  
  Hungary 3:32.5  
3-mile Relay GBR (Joseph Deakin, Archie
Robertson, Wilfred Coales)		 6 pts  
  USA 19 pts  
  France 32 pts  
Note: Medley Relay made up of two 200m runs, a 400m and an 800m.
Event   Mark  
High Jump Harry Porter, USA 6- 3 OR
  Con Leahy, GBR/IRE 6- 2  
  István Somody, HUN 6- 2  
  Georges André, FRA 6- 2  
Pole Vault Edward Cooke, USA 12- 2 OR
  & Alfred Gilbert, USA 12- 2 OR
  Ed Archibald, CAN 11- 9  
  Charles Jacobs, USA 11- 9  
  Bruno Söderström, SWE 11- 9  
Long Jump Frank Irons, USA 24- 61/2 OR
  Daniel Kelly, USA 23- 33/4  
  Calvin Bricker, CAN 23- 3  
Triple Jump Timothy Ahearne, GBR/IRE 48-111/2 OR
  J. Garfield McDonald, CAN 48- 51/4  
  Edvard Larsen, NOR 47- 23/4  
Shot Put Ralph Rose, USA 46- 71/2  
  Dennis Horgan, GBR 44- 81/4  
  John Garrels, USA 43- 3  
Discus Martin Sheridan, USA 134- 2 OR
  Merritt Giffin, USA 133- 63/4  
  Marquis Horr, USA 129- 5  
Greek Discus Martin Sheridan, USA 128- 4 OR
  Marquis Horr, USA 122- 63/4  
  Werner Järvinen, FIN 119- 91/4  
Hammer John Flanagan, USA 170- 4 OR
  Matthew McGrath, USA 167- 11  
  Cornelius Walsh, USA 159- 11/2  
Javelin Eric Lemming, SWE 179-10 WR
  Arne Halse, NOR 165- 11  
  Otto Nilsson, SWE 154- 6  
Freestyle
Javelin		 Eric Lemming, SWE 178- 71/2  
  Michel Dorizas, GRE 168- 7  
  Arne Halse, NOR 163- 3  
Note: Spinning not allowed in Greek-style Discus.
Standing   Mark
High Jump Ray Ewry, USA 5- 2
  Konstantin Tsiklitiras, GRE 5- 71/2
  John Biller, USA 5- 71/2
Long Jump Ray Ewry, USA 10-111/4
  Konstantin Tsiklitiras, GRE 10- 71/4
  Martin Sheridan, USA 10- 7

1912

1912 Olympics – Stockholm

The belligerence of 1908 was replaced with benevolence four years later, as Sweden provided a well-organized and pleasant haven for the troubled Games.

And then there were Jim Thorpe and Hannes Kolehmainen.

Thorpe, a 24-year-old American Indian who was a two-time consensus All-America football player at Carlisle (Pa.) Institute, won the two most demanding events in track and field–the pentathlon and decathlon. And he did it with ease. “You sir,” said the Swedes’ King Gustav V at the medal ceremony, “are the greatest athlete in the world.” To which Thorpe is said to have replied, “Thanks, King.”

Kolehmainen, a 22-year-old Finnish vegetarian, ran away with three distance events being run for the first time–the 5,000 and 10,000-meter races and the 12,000-meter cross-country run. He also picked up a silver medal in the 12,000-meter team race.

Ralph Craig of the U.S. was the only other winner of two individual track gold medals, taking both the 100 and 200-meter runs. The 100 final had seven false starts, one with Craig sprinting the entire distance before being called back.

Although Thorpe returned to the U.S. a hero, a year later it was learned that he had played semi-pro baseball for $25 a week in 1909 and 1910. The IOC, with the full support of the American Olympic Committee, stripped him of his medals and erased his records.

The medals and records were restored in 1982–29 years after Thorpe’s death.

Event   Time  
 100m Ralph Craig, USA 10.8 =OR
  Alvah Meyer, USA 10.9  
  Donald Lippincott, USA 10.9  
 200m Ralph Craig, USA 21.7  
  Donald Lippincott, USA 21.8  
  William Applegarth, GBR 22.0  
 400m Charlie Reidpath, USA 48.2 OR
  Hanns Braun, GER 48.3  
  Edward Lindberg, USA 48.4  
 800m Ted Meredith, USA 1:51.9 WR
  Melvin Sheppard, USA 1:52.0  
  Ira Davenport, USA 1:52.0  
1500m Arnold Jackson, GBR 3:56.8 OR
  Abel Kiviat, USA 3:56.9  
  Norman Taber, USA 3:56.9  
5000m Hannes Kolehmainen, FIN 14:36.6 WR
  Jean Bouin, FRA 14:36.7  
  George Hutson, GBR 15:07.6  
10,000m Hannes Kolehmainen, FIN 31:20.8  
  Louis Tewanima, USA 32:06.6  
  Albin Stenroos, FIN 32:21.8  
X-country
(12,000m)		 Hannes Kolehmainen, FIN 45:11.6  
  Hjalmar Andersson, SWE 45:44.8  
  John Eke, SWE 46:37.6  
Marathon Kenneth McArthur, S. Afr. 2:36:54.8  
  Christian Gitsham, S. Afr. 2:37:52.0  
  Gaston Strobino, USA 2:38:42.4  
110m H Frederick Kelly, USA 15.1  
  James Wendell, USA 15.2  
  Martin Hawkins, USA 15.3  
10k Walk George Goulding, CAN 46:28.4  
  Ernest Webb, GBR 46:50.4  
  Fernando Altimani, ITA 47:37.6  
4x100m GBR (David Jacobs, Harold
Macintosh, Victor d’Arcy,
William Applegarth)		 42.4 OR
  Sweden 42.6  
4x400m USA (Mel Sheppard, Edward
Lindberg, Ted Meredith,
Charlie Reidpath)		 3:16.6 WR
  FRA 3:20.7  
  GBR 3:23.2  
3000m Team USA (Tel Berna, Norman Taber,
George Bonhag)		 9 pts  
  SWE 13 pts  
  GBR 23 pts  
X-country
(12,000m)		 SWE (Hjalmar Andersson, John
Eke, Josef Ternström)		 10 pts  
  FIN 11 pts  
  GBR 49 pts  
Event   Mark  
High Jump Alma Richards, USA 6- 4 OR
  Hans Liesche, GER 6- 31/4  
  George Horine, USA 6- 21/2  
Pole Vault Harry Babcock, USA 12-111/2 OR
  Marcus Wright, USA 12- 71/2  
  Frank Nelson, USA 12- 71/2  
Long Jump Albert Gutterson, USA 24-111/4 OR
  Calvin Bricker, CAN 23- 73/4  
  Georg Aberg, SWE 23- 61/2  
Triple Jump Gustaf Lindblom, SWE 48-51/4  
  Georg Aberg, SWE 47- 71/4  
  Erik Almlöf, SWE 89- 81/4  
Shot Put Babe McDonald, USA 50- 4 OR
  Ralph Rose, USA 50- 01/4  
  Lawrence Whitney, USA 46- 5  
Discus Armas Taipale, FIN 148- 3 OR
  Richard Byrd, USA 138- 10  
  James Duncan, USA 138- 81/2  
Hammer Matt McGrath, USA 179- 7 OR
  Duncan Gillis, CAN 158- 9  
  Clarence Childs, USA 158- 0  
Javelin Erik Lemming, SWE 198-11 WR
  Juho Saaristo, FIN 192- 5  
  Mór Kóczán, HUN 182- 1  
Pentathlon Jim Thorpe, USA 7 pts  
  James Donahue, USA 24 pts  
  Frank Lukemann, CAN 24 pts  
Decathlon Jim Thorpe, USA 8412 pts WR
  Charles Lomberg, SWE 7413.510  
  Gösta Holmér, SWE 7347.855  
Event   Mark
High Jump Platt Adams, USA 5- 41/4
  Benjamin Adams, USA 5- 3
  Konstantin Tsiklitiras, GRE 5- 11/4
Long Jump Konstantin Tsiklitiras, GRE 11-03/4
  Platt Adams, USA 11- 01/2
  Benjamin Adams, USA 10- 91/4
Both Hands Mark
Shot Put Ralph Rose, USA 90-101/2
  Patrick McDonald, USA 50- 4
  Elmer Niklander, FIN 89- 81/4
Discus Armas Taipale, FIN 271-10
  Elmer Niklander, FIN 255- 111/2
  Emil Magnusson, SWE 254- 01/2
Javelin Juho Saaristo, FIN 359- 0
  Väinö Siikaniemi, FIN 332- 01/2
  Urho Peltonen, FIN 329- 81/2

1920

1920 Olympics – Antwerp

The Olympic quadrennial, scheduled for Berlin in 1916, was interrupted by World War I–the so-called “War to End All Wars,” which had involved 28 countries and killed nearly 10 million troops in four years.

The four-year cycle of Olympiads–Berlin would have been the sixth–is still counted, however, even though the Games were not played.

Less than two years after the armistice, the Olympics resumed in Belgium, a symbolic and austere choice considering it had been occupied for four years by enemy forces. Still, 29 countries (one more than participated in the war) sent a record 2,600 athletes to the Games. Germany and Austria, the defeated enemies of Belgium and the Allies, were not invited.

The United States turned in the best overall team performance, winning 41 gold medals, but the talk of the Games was 23-year-old distance runner Paavo Nurmi of Finland. Nurmi won the 10,000-meter run and 8,000-meter cross-country, took a third gold in the team cross-country and silver in the 5,000-meter run. In all, Finland won nine track and field gold medals to break the U.S. dominance in the sport.

Elsewhere, Albert Hill of Britain made his Olympic debut at age 36 and won both the 800 and 1,500-meter runs. World record holder Charley Paddock of the U.S. won the 100 meters, but was upset in the 200 by teammate Allen Woodring, who was a last-minute addition to the team.

Event   Time  
  100m Charley Paddock, USA 10.8  
  Morris Kirksey, USA 10.8  
  Harry Edward, GBR 11.0  
  200m Allen Woodring, USA 22.0  
  Charley Paddock, USA 22.1  
  Harry Edward, GBR 22.2  
  400m Bevil Rudd, S. Afr. 49.6  
  Guy Butler, GBR 49.9  
  Nils Engdahl, SWE 50.0  
  800m Albert Hill, GBR 1:53.4  
  Earl Eby, USA 1:53.6  
  Bevil Rudd, S. Afr. 1:54.0  
 1500m Albert Hill, GBR 4:01.8  
  Philip Noel-Baker, GBR 4:02.4  
  Lawrence Shields, USA 4:03.1  
 5000m Joseph Guillemot, FRA 14:55.6  
  Paavo Nurmi, FIN 15:00.0  
  Erik Backman, SWE 15:13.0  
10,000m Paavo Nurmi, FIN 31:45.8  
  Joseph Guillemot, FRA 31:47.2  
  James Wilson, GBR 31:50.8  
X-country
(8000m)		 Paavo Nurmi, FIN 27:15.0  
  Erik Backman, SWE 27:15.6  
  Heikki Liimatainen, FIN 27:37.4  
Marathon Hannes Kolehmainen, FIN 2:32:35.8 WB
  Juri Lossman, EST 2:32:48.6  
  Valerio Arri, ITA 2:36:32.8  
110m H Earl Thomson, CAN 14.8 WR
  Harold Barron, USA 15.1  
  Frederick Murray, USA 15.2  
400m H Frank Loomis, USA 54.0 WR
  John Norton, USA 54.3  
  August Desch, USA 54.5  
3000m
Steeple		 Percy Hodge, GBR 10:00.4 OR
  Patrick Flynn, USA    
  Ernesto Ambrosini, ITA    
3k Walk Ugo Frigerio, ITA 13:14.2 OR
  George Parker, AUS    
  Richard F. Remer, USA    
10k Walk Ugo Frigerio, ITA 48:06.2  
  Joseph Pearman, USA    
  Charles Gunn, GBR    
4x100m USA (Charley Paddock, Jackson
Scholz, Loren Murchison,
Morris Kirksey)		 42.2 WR
  FRA 42.6  
  SWE 42.9  
4x400m GBR (Cecil Griffiths, Robert Lindsay,
John Ainsworth-Davis,
Guy Butler)		 3:22.2  
  South Africa 3:24.2  
  France 3:24.8  
3000m
Team		 USA (Horace Brown, Arlie Schardt,
Ivan Dresser)		 10 pts  
  GBR 20 pts  
  SWE 24 pts  
X-country
(8000m)		 FIN (Paavo Nurmi, Heikki
Liimatainen, Teodor
Koskenniemi)		 10 pts  
  GBR 21 pts  
  SWE 23 pts  
Event   Mark  
High Jump Richmond Landon, USA 6- 4 =OR
  Harold Muller, USA 6- 23/4  
  Bo Ekeland, SWE 6- 23/4  
Pole Vault Frank Foss, USA 13- 5 WR
  Henry Petersen, DAN 12- 11/2  
  Edwin Myers, USA 11- 91/2  
Long Jump William Petersson, SWE 23- 51/2  
  Carl Johnson, USA 23- 31/4  
  Erik Abrahamsson, SWE 23- 21/2  
Triple Jump Vilho Tuulos, FIN 47- 7  
  Folke Jansson, SWE 47- 6  
  Erik Almlöf, SWE 49- 93/4  
Shot Put Ville Pörhölä, FIN 48- 71/4  
  Elmer Niklander, FIN 46- 51/4  
  Harry Liversedge, USA 46- 5  
56-lb Throw Babe McDonald, USA 36-111/2 OR
  Patrick Ryan, USA 36- 0  
  Carl Johan Lind, SWE 33- 73/4  
Discus Elmer Niklander, FIN 146- 7  
  Armas Taipale, FIN 144- 111/2  
  Augustus Pope, USA 138- 21/2  
Hammer Pat Ryan, USA 173- 5  
  Carl Johan Lind, SWE 158- 101/2  
  Basil Bennet, USA 158- 31/2  
Javelin Jonni Myyrä, FIN 215-10 OR
  Urho Peltonen, FIN 208- 4  
  Paavo Jaale-Johansson, FIN 207- 0  
Pentathlon Eero Lehtonen, FIN 14 pts  
  Everett Bradley, USA 24 pts  
  Hugo Lahtinen, FIN 26 pts  
Decathlon Helge Lövland, NOR 6803 pts  
  Brutus Hamilton, USA 6771.085 pts  
  Bertil Ohlson, SWE 6580.030 pts

1924

1924 Olympics – Paris

Paavo Nurmi may have been the talk of Antwerp in 1920, but he was the sensation of Paris four years later.

It wasn’t just that the “Flying Finn” won five gold medals, it was the way he did it. Running with a stopwatch on his wrist, Peerless Paavo captured the 1,500 and 5,000-meter finals within an hour of each other and set Olympic records in both. Two days later, he blew away the field in the 10,000-meter cross-country run where the heat and an unusually difficult course combined to knock out 23 of 38 starters (Finland also won the team gold in the event). And finally, the next day he led the Finns to victory in the 3,000-meter team race. His performance overshadowed the four gold medals of teammate Ville Ritola.

The gold medals won by British runners Harold Abrahams in the 100 meters and Eric Liddell in the 400 were chronicled in the 1981 Academy Award-winning film “Chariots of Fire.” The movie, however, was not based on fact. Liddell, a devout Christian, knew months in advance that the preliminary for the 100 (his best event) was on a Sunday, so he had plenty of time to change plans and train for the 400. Also, he and Abrahams never competed against each other in real life.

Speaking of the movies, Johnny Weissmuller of the U.S. won three swimming gold medals in the 100 and 400-meter freestyles and the 4×200 freestyle relay. He would later become Hollywood’s most famous Tarzan.

Event   Time  
 100m Harold Abrahams, GBR 10.6 =OR
  Jackson Scholz, USA 10.7  
  Arthur Porritt, NZL 10.8  
 200m Jackson Scholz, USA 21.6  
  Charles Paddock, USA 21.7  
  Eric Liddell, GBR 21.9  
 400m Eric Liddell, GBR 47.6 OR
  Horatio Fitch, USA 48.4  
  Guy Butler, GBR 48.6  
 800m Douglas Lowe, GBR 1:52.4  
  Paul Martin, SWI 1:52.6  
  Schuyler Enck, USA 1:53.0  
 1500m Paavo Nurmi, FIN 3:53.6 OR
  Willy Schärer, SWI 3:55.0  
  Henry Stallard, GBR 3:55.6  
 5000m Paavo Nurmi, FIN 14:31.2 OR
  Ville Ritola, FIN 14:31.4  
  Edvin Wide, SWE 15:01.8  
10,000m Ville Ritola, FIN 30:23.2 WR
  Edvin Wide, SWE 30:55.2  
  Eero Berg, FIN 31:43.0  
X-country
(10,000m)		 Paavo Nurmi, FIN 32:54.8  
  Ville Ritola, FIN 34:19.4  
  Earl Johnson, USA 35:21.0  
Marathon Albin Stenroos, FIN 2:41:22.6  
  Romeo Bertini, ITA 2:47:19.6  
  Clarence DeMar, USA 2:48:14.0  
110m H Daniel Kinsey, USA 15.0  
  Sidney Atkinson, S. Afr. 15.0  
  Sten Pettersson, SWE 15.4  
400m H F.Morgan Taylor, USA 52.6  
  Erik Vilén, FIN 53.8  
  Ivan Riley, USA 54.2  
3000m
Steeple		 Ville Ritola, FIN 9:33.6 OR
  Elias Katz, FIN 9:44.0  
  Paul Bontemps, FRA 9:45.2  
10k Walk Ugo Frigerio, ITA 47:49.0  
  Gordon Goodwin, GBR    
  Cecil McMaster, S. Afr.    
4x100m USA (Francis Hussey, Louis
Clarke, Loren Murchison,
Alfred Leconey)		 41.0 =WR
  Great Britain 41.2  
  Netherlands 41.8  
4x400M USA (C.S. Cochrane, Alan
Helffrich, J.O. MacDonald,
William Stevenson)		 3:16.0 WR
  Sweden 3:17.0  
  Great Britain 3:17.4  
3000m
Team		 Finland (Paavo Nurmi, Ville Ritola,
Elias Katz)		 8 pts  
  Great Britain 14  
  USA 25  
X-country
(10,000m)		 Finland (Paavo Nurmi, Ville Ritola,
Hekki Liimatainen)		 11 pts  
  USA 14  
  France 20  
Event   Mark  
High Jump Harold Osborn, USA 6- 6 OR
  Leroy Brown, USA 6-43/4  
  Pierre Lewden, FRA 6-31/4  
Pole Vault Lee Barnes, USA 12-111/2  
  Glen Graham, USA 12-111/2  
  James Brooker, USA 12-91/2  
Long Jump William DeHart Hubbard, USA 24- 5  
  Edward Gourdin, USA 23-103/4  
  Sverre Hansen, NOR    
Triple Jump Anthony Winter, AUS 50-111/4 WR
  Luis Bruneto, ARG 50-71/4  
  Vilho Tuulos, FIN 50-5  
Shot Put Bud Houser, USA 49- 21/4  
  Glenn Hartranft, USA 49-13/4  
  Ralph Hills, USA 48-01/4  
Discus Bud Houser, USA 151- 4 OR
  Vilho Niittymaa, FIN 147-51/2  
  Thomas Lieb, USA 147-01/2  
Hammer Fred Tootell, USA 174-10  
  Matthew McGrath, USA 166-91/2  
  Malcolm Nokes, GBR 158-31/2  
Javelin Jonni Myyrä, FIN 206- 7  
  Gunnar Lindström, SWE 199-10  
  Eugene Oberst, USA 191-5  
Pentathlon Eero Lehtonen, FIN 14 pts  
  Elemér Somfay, HUN 16  
  Robert LeGendre, USA 18  
Decathlon Harold Osborn, USA 7711 pts WR
  Emerson Norton, USA 7350.895  
  Alexander Klumberg, EST 7329.360  

1928

1928 Olympics – Amsterdam

“We are here to represent the greatest country on earth. We did not come here to lose gracefully. We came here to win–and win decisively.”

So ordered American Olympic Committee president Gen. Douglas MacArthur before the start of the 1928 Games. His athletes would deliver, easily winning the unofficial national standings for the third Olympiad in a row.

The U.S. men won eight gold medals in track and field, but were victorious in only one individual running race (Ray Barbuti in the 400 meters). In the sprints, Canada’s Percy Williams became the first non-American to win both the 100 and 200. Finland claimed four running titles, including Paavo Nurmi’s victory in the 10,000 meters–his ninth overall gold medal in three Olympic Games. Teammate and arch-rival Ville Ritola placed second in the 10,000 and outran Nurmi in the 5,000.

These Games marked Germany’s return to the Olympic fold after serving a 10-year probation for its “aggressiveness” in World War I. It was also the first Olympics that women were allowed to participate in track and field (despite objections from Pope Pius IX). And in swimming, the U.S. got double gold performances from Martha Norelius, Albina Osipowich and Johnny Weissmuller, as well as diver Pete Desjardins.

Men

Event   Time  
 100m Percy Williams, CAN 10.8  
  Jack London, GBR 10.9  
  Georg Lammers, GER 10.9  
 200m Percy Williams, CAN 21.8  
  Walter Placeeley, GBR 21.9  
  Helmut Körnig, GER 21.9  
 400m Ray Barbuti, USA 47.8  
  James Ball, CAN 48.0  
  Joachim Büchner, GER 48.2  
 800m Douglas Lowe, GBR 1:51.8 OR
  Erik Byléhn, SWE 1:52.8  
  Hermann Englehard, GER 1:53.2  
1500m Harri Larva, FIN 3:53.2 OR
  Jules Ladoumégue, FRA 3:53.8  
  Eino Purje, FIN 3:56.4  
5000m Ville Ritola, FIN 14:38.0  
  Paavo Nurmi, FIN 14:40.0  
  Edvin Wide, SWE 14:41.2  
10,000m Paavo Nurmi, FIN 30:18.8 OR
  Ville Ritola, FIN 30:19.4  
  Edvin Wide, SWE 31:00.8  
Marathon Mohamed El Quafi, FRA 2:32:57.0  
  Miguel Plaza, CHI 2:33:23  
  Martti Marttelin, FIN 2:35:02  
110m H Syd Atkinson, S. Afr. 14.8  
  Stephen Anderson, USA 14.8  
  John Collier, USA 14.9  
400m H David Burghley, GBR 53.4 OR
  Frank Cuhel, USA 53.6  
  F.Morgan Taylor, USA 53.6  
3000m
Steeple		 Toivo Loukola, FIN 9:21.8 WR
  Paavo Nurmi, FIN 9:31.6  
  Ove Andersen, FIN 9:35.6  
4x100m USA (Frank Wykoff, Jimmy Quinn,
Charley Borah, Hank Russell)		 41.0 WR
  Germany 41.2  
  Great Britain 41.8  
4x400m USA (George Baird, Bud
Spencer, Fred Alderman,
Ray Barbuti)		 3:14.2 WR
  Germany 3:14.8  
  Canada 3:15.4  
Event   Mark  
High Jump Bob King, USA 6-41/2  
  Benjamin Hedges, USA 6-31/4  
  Claude Ménard, FRA 6-31/4  
Pole Vault Sabin Carr, USA 13-91/4 OR
  William Droegemueller, USA 13-51/4  
  Charles McGinnis, USA 12-111/2  
Long Jump Ed Hamm, USA 25- 41/2 OR
  Silvio Cator, HAI 24-101/4  
  Alfred Bates, USA 24-31/4  
Triple Jump Mikio Oda, JPN 49-11  
  Levi Casey, USA 49-9  
  Vilho Tuulos, FIN 49-63/4  
Shot Put Johnny Kuck, USA 52-03/4 WR
  Herman Brix, USA 51-8  
  Emil Hirschfeld, GER 51-63/4  
Discus Bud Houser, USA 155- 3 OR
  Antero Kivi, FIN 154-11  
  James Corson, USA 154-6  
Hammer Pat O’Callaghan, IRE 168- 7  
  Ossian Skiöld, SWE 168-3  
  Edmund Black, USA 160-10  
Javelin Erik Lundkvist, SWE 218- 6 OR
  Béla Szepes, HUN 214-1  
  Olav Sunde, NOR 209-101/2  
Decathlon Paavo Yrjölä, FIN 8053 pts WR
  Akilles Järvinen, FIN 7931  
  John Kenneth Doherty, USA 7706  

Women

Event   Time  
 100m Betty Robinson, USA 12.2 =WR
  Fanny Rosenfeld, CAN 12.3  
  Ethel Smith, CAN 12.3  
 800m Lina Radke, GER 2:16.8 WR
  Kinue Hitomi, JPN 2:17.6  
  Inga Gentzel, SWE 2:17.8  
4x100m Canada (Fanny Rosenfeld, Ethel
Smith, Florence Bell,
Myrtle Cook)		 48.4 WR
  USA 48.8  
  Germany 49.2  
Event   Mark  
High Jump Ethel Catherwood, CAN 5- 21/2  
  Carolina Gisolf, NED 5-11/4  
  Mildred Wiley, USA 5-11/4  
Discus Halina Konopacka, POL 129-113/4 WR
  Lillian Copeland, USA 121-71/2  
  Ruth Svedberg, SWE 117-10  

1932

1932 Olympics – Los Angeles

Despite a world-wide economic depression and predictions that the 1932 Summer Olympics were doomed to failure, 37 countries sent over 1,300 athletes to southern California and the Games were a huge success.

Energized by perfect weather and the buoyant atmosphere of the first Olympic Village, the competition was fierce. Sixteen world and Olympic records fell in men’s track and field alone.

In women’s track, 21-year-old Babe Didrikson, who had set world records in the 80-meter hurdles, javelin and high jump at the AAU Olympic Trials three weeks before, came to L.A. and announced, “I am out to beat everybody in sight.” She almost did too–winning the hurdles and javelin, but taking second in the high jump (despite tying teammate Jean Shiley for first) when her jumping style was ruled illegal.

Didrikson’s heroics, along with American Eddie Tolan’s double in the 100 and 200 meters and Italian Luigi Beccali’s upset victory in the 1,500, were among the Games’ highlights, but they didn’t quite make up for the absence of Finland’s famed distance runner Paavo Nurmi.

Just before the Games, the IOC said that Nurmi would not be allowed to participate in his fourth Olympics because he had received excessive expense money on a trip to Germany in 1929. The ruling came as no surprise in the track world where it was said, “Nurmi has the lowest heartbeat and the highest asking price of any athlete in the world.”

The Japanese men and American women dominated in swimming, each winning five of six events. Helene Madison of the U.S. won two races and anchored the winning relay team.

Men

Event   Time  
 100m Eddie Tolan, USA 10.3 OR
  Ralph Metcalfe, USA 10.3  
  Arthur Jonath, GER 10.5  
 200m Eddie Tolan, USA 21.2 OR
  George Simpson, USA 21.4  
  Ralph Metcalfe, USA 21.5  
 400m Bill Carr, USA 46.2 WR
  Benjamin Eastman, USA 46.4  
  Alexander Wilson, CAN 47.4  
 800m Tommy Hampson, GBR 1:49.7 WR
  Alexander Wilson, CAN 1:49.9  
  Philip Edwards, CAN 1:51.5  
1500m Luigi Beccali, ITA 3:51.2 OR
  John Cornes, GBR 3:52.6  
  Philip Edwards, CAN 3:52.8  
5000m Lauri Lehtinen, FIN 14:30.0 OR
  Ralph Hill, USA 14:30.0  
  Lauri Virtanen, FIN 14:44.0  
10,000m Janusz Kusocinski, POL 30:11.4 OR
  Volmari Iso-Hollo, FIN 30:12.6  
  Lauri Virtanen, FIN 30:35.0  
Marathon Juan Carlos Zabala, ARG 2:31:36.0 OR
  Samuel Ferris, GBR 2:31:55.0  
  Armas Toivonen, FIN 2:32:12.0  
110m H George Saling, USA 14.6  
  Percy Beard, USA 14.7  
  Donald Finlay, GBR 14.8  
400m H Bob Tisdall, IRE 51.7  
  Glenn Hardin, USA 51.9  
  Morgan Taylor, USA 52.0  
3000m
Steeple		 Volmari Iso-Hollo, FIN 10:33.4  
  Thomas Evenson, GBR 10:46.0  
  Joseph McCluskey, USA 10:46.2  
50k Walk Thomas Green, GBR 4:50:10  
  Janis Dalinsh, LAT 4:57:20  
  Ugo Frigerio, ITA 4:59:06  
4x100m USA (Bob Kiesel, Emmett
Toppino, Hector Dyer,
Frank Wykoff)		 40.0 WR
  Germany 40.9  
  Italy 41.2  
4x400m USA (Ivan Fuqua, Edgar
Ablowich, Karl Warner,
Bill Carr)		 3:08.2 WR
  Great Britain 3:11.2  
  Canada 3:12.8  
Note: Due to a lap count error, the 3000-meter steeplechase actually went 3460 meters, or one lap too many.
Event   Mark  
High Jump Duncan McNaughton, CAN 6- 51/2  
  Robert Van Osdel, USA 6- 51/2  
  Simeon Toribio, PHI 6- 51/2  
Pole Vault Bill Miller, USA 14- 13/4 OR
  Shuhei Nishida, JPN 14- 0  
  George Jefferson, USA 13- 9  
Long Jump Edward Gordon, USA 25- 03/4  
  Charles L.Redd, USA 24- 111/4  
  Chuhei Nambu, JPN 24- 51/4  
Triple Jump Chuhei Nambu, JPN 51- 7 WR
  Erik Svensson, SWE 50- 31/4  
  Kenkichi Oshima, JPN 49- 71/4  
Shot Put Leo Sexton, USA 52- 6 OR
  Harlow Rothert, USA 51- 5  
  Frantisek Douda, CZE 51- 21/2  
Discus John Anderson, USA 162- 4 OR
  Henri J.Laborde, USA 159- 01/2  
  Paul Winter, FRA 157- 0  
Hammer Pat O’Callaghan, IRE 176-11  
  Ville Pörhölä, FIN 171- 6  
  Peter Zaremba, USA 165- 11/2  
Javelin Matti Järvinen, FIN 238- 6 OR
  Matti Sippala, FIN 229- 0  
  Eino Penttilä, FIN 225- 41/2  
Decathlon Jim Bausch, USA 8462 pts WR
  Akilles Järvinen, FIN    
  Wolrad Eberle, GER    

Women

Event   Time  
 100m Stella Walsh, POL* 11.9 =WR
  Hilda Strike, CAN 11.9  
  Wilhelmina v.Bremen, USA 12.0  
80m H Babe Didrikson, USA 11.7 WR
  Evelyne Hall, USA 11.7  
  Marjorie Clark, S. Afr. 11.8  
4x100m USA (Mary Carew, Evelyn
Furtsch, Annette Rogers,
Wilhelmina Von Bremen)		 46.9 WR
  Canada 47.0  
  Great Britain 47.6  
*An autopsy performed after Walsh’s death in 1980 revealed that she was a man.
Event   Mark  
High Jump Jean Shiley, USA 5- 51/4 WR
  Babe Didrikson, USA 5- 51/4  
  Eva Dawes, CAN 5- 3  
Discus Lillian Copeland, USA 133- 2 OR
  Ruth Osburn, USA 131- 71/2  
  Jadwiga Wajsowna, POL 128- 1  
Javelin Babe Didrikson, USA 143- 4 OR
  Ellen Braumüller, GER 142- 81/2  
  Tilly Fleischer, GER 142- 11/4  

1936

1936 Olympics – Berlin

At the Big Ten Track and Field Championships of 1935, Ohio State’s Jesse Owens equaled or set world records in four events: the 100 and 220-yard dashes, 200-yard low hurdles and the long jump. He was also credited with world marks in the 200-meter run and 200-meter hurdles. That’s six world records in one afternoon, and he did it all in 45 minutes!

The following year, he swept the 100 and 200 meters and long jump at the Olympic Trials and headed for Germany favored to win all three.

In Berlin, dictator Adolf Hitler and his Nazi followers felt sure that the Olympics would be the ideal venue to demonstrate Germany’s oft-stated racial superiority. He directed that $25 million be spent on the finest facilities, the cleanest streets and the temporary withdrawal of all outward signs of the state-run anti-Jewish campaign. By the time over 4,000 athletes from 49 countries arrived for the Games, the stage was set.

Then Owens, a black sharecropper’s son from Alabama, stole the show–winning his three individual events and adding a fourth gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay. The fact that four other American blacks also won did little to please Herr Hitler, but the applause from the German crowds, especially for Owens, was thunderous. As it was for New Zealander Jack Lovelock’s thrilling win over Glenn Cunningham and defending champ Luigi Beccali in the 1,500 meters.

Germany won only five combined gold medals in men’s and women’s track and field, but saved face for the “master race” in the overall medal count with an 89-56 margin over the United States.

The top female performers in Berlin were 17-year-old Dutch swimmer Rie Mastenbroek, who won three gold medals, and 18-year-old American runner Helen Stephens, who captured the 100 meters and anchored the winning 4×100-meter relay team.

Basketball also made its debut as a medal sport and was played outdoors. The U.S. men easily won the first gold medal championship game with a 19-8 victory over Canada in the rain.

Men

Event   Time  
 100m Jesse Owens, USA 10.3  
  Ralph Metcalfe, USA 10.4  
  Martinus Osendarp, NED 10.5  
 200m Jesse Owens, USA 20.7 OR
  Matthew Robinson, USA 21.1  
  Martinus Osendarp, NED 21.3  
 400m Archie Williams, USA 46.5  
  Godfrey Brown, GBR 46.7  
  James LuValle, USA 46.8  
 800m John Woodruff, USA 1:52.9  
  Mario Lanzi, ITA 1:53.3  
  Philip Edwards, CAN 1:53.6  
1500m Jack Lovelock, NZE 3:47.8 WR
  Glenn Cunningham, USA 3:48.4  
  Luigi Beccali, ITA 3:49.2  
5000m Gunnar Höckert, FIN 14:22.2 OR
  Lauri Lehtinen, FIN 14:25.8  
  Henry Jonsson, SWE 14:29.0  
10,000m Ilmari Salminen, FIN 30:15.4  
  Arvo Askola, FIN 30:15.6  
  Volmari Iso-Hollo, FIN 30:20.2  
Marathon Sohn Kee-chung, JPN 2:29:19.2 OR
  Ernest Harper, GBR 2:31:23.2  
  Shoryu Nan, JPN 2:31:42.0  
110m H Forrest Towns, USA 14.2  
  Donald Finlay, GBR 14.4  
  Frederick Pollard, USA 14.4  
400m H Glenn Hardin, USA 52.4  
  John Loaring, CAN 52.7  
  Miguel White, PHI 52.8  
3000m
Steeple		 Volmari Iso-Hollo, FIN 9:03.8 WR
  Kaarlo Tuominen, FIN 9:06.8  
  Alfred Dompert, GER 9:07.2  
50k walk Harold Whitlock, GBR 4:30:41.4 OR
  Arthur Schwab, SWI 4:32:09.2  
  Adalbert Bubenko, LAT 4:32:42.2  
Note: Marathon winner Sohn was a Korean, but was forced to run for Japan, which occupied his country.
Event   Time  
4x100m USA (Jesse Owens, Ralph Metcalfe,
Foy Draper, Frank Wykoff)		 39.8 WR
  Italy 41.1  
  Germany 41.2  
4x400m GBR (Frederick Wolff, Godfrey
Rampling, William Roberts,
A.G. Brown)		 3:09.0  
  United States 3:11.0  
  Germany 3:11.8  
Event   Mark  
High Jump Cornelius Johnson, USA 6- 8 OR
  David Albritton, USA 6-63/4  
  Delos Thurber, USA 6-63/4  
Pole Vault Earle Meadows, USA 14- 31/4 OR
  Shuhei Nishida, JPN 14-0  
  Sueo Oe, JPN 13-111/4  
Long Jump Jesse Owens, USA 26- 51/2 OR
  Luz Long, GER 25-93/4  
  Naoto Tajima, JPN 25-41/2  
Triple Jump Naoto Tajima, JPN 52- 6 WR
  Masao Harad, JPN 51-41/2  
  John P.Metcalfe, AUS 50-10  
Shot Put Hans Woellke, GER 53- 13/4 OR
  Sulo Bärlund, FIN 52-101/2  
  Gerhard Stöck, GER 51-41/2  
Discus Ken Carpenter, USA 165- 7 OR
  Gordon Dunn, USA 161-11  
  Giorgio Oberweger, ITA 161-6  
Hammer Karl Hein, GER 185- 4 OR
  Erwin Blask, GER 180-61/2  
  Fred Warngard, SWE 179-101/2  
Javelin Gerhard Stöck, GER 235- 8  
  Yrjö Nikkanen, FIN 232-2  
  Kalervo Toivonen, FIN 232-0  
Decathlon Glenn Morris, USA 7900 pts WR
  Robert Clark, USA 7601  
  Jack Parker, USA 7275  

Women

Event   Time
100m Helen Stephens, USA 11.5w
  Stanislawa Walasiewicz, POL 11.7
  Käthe Kraub, GER 11.9
80m H Trebisonda Valla, ITA 11.7 
  Ann Steuer, GER 11.7
  Elizabeth Taylor, CAN 11.7
4x100m USA (Harriet Bland, Annette Rogers,
Betty Robinson, Helen Stephens)		 46.9 
  Great Britain 47.6
  Canada 47.8
w indicates wind-aided.
Event   Mark  
High Jump Ibolya Csák, HUN 5- 3  
  Dorothy Odam, GBR 5-3  
  Elfriede Kaun, GER 5-3  
Discus Gisela Mauermayer, GER 156- 3 OR
  Jadwiga Wajswna, POL 151-71/2  
  Paula Mollenhauer, GER 130-61/2  
Javelin Tilly Fleischer, GER 148- 3 OR
  Luise Krüger, GER 142-0  
  Maria Kwasniewska, POL 137-11/2  

1948

1948 Olympics – London

The Summer Olympics were scheduled for Tokyo in 1940, but by mid-1938, Japan was at war with China and withdrew as host. The IOC immediately transferred the Games to Helsinki and the Finns eagerly began preparations only to be invaded by the Soviet Union in 1939.

By then, of course, Germany had marched into Poland and World War II was on. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor two years later, and the bombs didn’t stop falling until 1945. Against this backdrop of global conflict, the Olympic Games were cancelled again in 1940 and ’44. Many of the participants in the 1936 Games died in the war.

Eager to come back after two dormant Olympiads, the IOC offered the 1948 Games to London. Much of the British capital had been reduced to rubble in the blitz, but the offer was accepted and the Games went on–successfully, without frills, and without invitations extended to Germany and Japan. The Soviet Union was invited, but chose not to show.

The United States reclaimed its place at the top of the overall medal standings, but the primary individual stars were a 30-year-old Dutch mother of two and a 17-year-old kid from California.

Fanny Blankers-Koen duplicated Jesse Owens’ track and field grand slam of 12 years before by winning the 100-meter and 200-meter runs, the 80-meter hurdles, and anchoring the women’s 4×100-meter relay.

And Bob Mathias, just two months after graduating from Tulare High School, won the gold medal in the decathlon, an event he had taken up for the first time earlier in the year.

Men

Event   Time  
 100m Harrison Dillard, USA 10.3 =OR
  Norwood Ewell, USA 10.4  
  Lloyd LaBeach, PAN 10.4  
 200m Mel Patton, USA 21.1  
  Norwood Ewell, USA 21.1  
  Lloyd LaBeach, PAN 21.2  
 400m Arthur Wint, JAM 46.2  
  Herbert McKenley, JAM 46.4  
  Mal Whitfield, USA 46.9  
 800m Mal Whitfield, USA 1:49.2 OR
  Arthur Wint, JAM 1:49.5  
  Marcel Hansenne, FRA 1:49.8  
1500m Henri Eriksson, SWE 3:49.8  
  Lennart Strand, SWE 3:50.4  
  Willem Slijkhuis, NED 3:50.4  
5000m Gaston Reiff, BEL 14:17.6 OR
  Emil Zátopek, CZE 14:17.8  
  Willem Slijkhuis, NED 14:26.8  
10,000m Emil Zátopek, CZE 29:59.6 OR
  Alain Mimoun, FRA 30:47.4  
  Bertil Albertsson, SWE 30:53.6  
Marathon Delfo Cabrera, ARG 2:34:51.6  
  Thomas Richards, GBR 2:35:07.6  
  Etienne Gailly, BEL 2:35:33.6  
110m H Bill Porter, USA 13.9 OR
  Clyde Scott, USA 14.1  
  Craig Dixon, USA 14.1  
400m H Roy Cochran, USA 51.1 OR
  Duncan White, CEY 51.8  
  Rune Larsson, SWE 52.2  
3000m
Steeple		 Thore Sjöstrand, SWE 9:04.6  
  Erik Elmsäter, SWE 9:08.2  
  Gösta Hagström, SWE 9:11.8  
10k Walk John Mikaelsson, SWE 45:13.2  
  Ingemar Johansson, SWE 45:43.8  
  Fritz Schwab, SWI 46:00.2  
50k Walk John Ljunggren, SWE 4:41:52  
  Gaston Godel, SWI 4:48:17  
  Tebbs Lloyd-Johnson, GBR 4:48:31  
4x100m USA (Barney Ewell, Lorenzo Wright,
Harrison Dillard, Mel Patton)		 40.6  
  Great Britain 41.3  
  Italy 41.5  
4x400m USA (Art Harnden, Cliff Bourland,
Roy Cochran, Mal Whitfield)		 3:10.4  
  France 3:14.8  
  Sweden 3:16.0  
Event   Mark  
High Jump John Winter, AUS 6- 6  
  Björn Paulson, NOR 6-43/4  
  George Stanich, USA 6-43/4  
Pole Vault Guinn Smith, USA 14- 11/4  
  Erkki Kataja, FIN 13-91/4  
  Robert Richards, USA 13-91/4  
Long Jump Willie Steele, USA 25- 8  
  Thomas Bruce, AUS 24-9  
  Herbert Douglas, USA 24-83/4  
Triple Jump Arne Åhman, SWE 50- 61/4  
  George Avery, AUS 50-43/4  
  Ruhi Sarialp, TUR 49-31/2  
Shot Put Wilbur Thompson, USA 56- 2 OR
  Francis Delaney, USA 54-81/2  
  James Fuchs, USA 53-101/4  
Discus Adolfo Consolini, ITA 173- 2 OR
  Giuseppe Tosi, ITA 169-101/2  
  Fortune Gordien, USA 166-61/2  
Hammer Imre Németh, HUN 183-11  
  Ivan Gubijan, YUG 178-01/2  
  Robert Bennett, USA 176-3  
Javelin Tapio Rautavaara, FIN 228-10  
  Steve Seymour, USA 221-71/2  
  József Várszegi, HUN 219-101/2  
Decathlon Bob Mathias, USA 7139 pts  
  Ignace Heinrich, FRA 6974  
  Floyd Simmons, USA 6950  

Women

Event   Time  
 100m Fanny Blankers-Koen, NED 11.9  
  Dorothy Manley, GBR 12.2  
  Shirley Strickland, AUS 12.2  
 200m Fanny Blankers-Koen, NED 24.4  
  Audrey Williamson, GBR 25.1  
  Audrey Patterson, USA 25.2  
 80m H Fanny Blankers-Koen, NED 11.2 OR
  Maureen Gardner, GBR 11.2  
  Shirley Strickland, AUS 11.4  
4x100m NED (Xenia Stad-de Jong, Jeanette
Witziers-Timmer, Gerda
van der Kade-Koudijs,
Fanny Blankers-Koen)		 47.5  
  Australia 47.6  
  Canada 47.8  
Event   Mark  
High Jump Alice Coachman, USA 5- 6 OR
  Dorothy Tyler-Odam, GBR 5-6  
  Micheline Ostermeyer, FRA 5-31/4  
Long Jump Olga Gyarmati, HUN 18- 81/4  
  Noëmi Simonetto De Portela, ARG 18-41/4  
  Ann-Britt Leyman, SWE 18-31/4  
Shot Put Micheline Ostermeyer, FRA 45- 11/2  
  Amelia Piccinini, ITA 42-111/2  
  Ine Schäffer, AUT 42-103/4  
Discus Micheline Ostermeyer, FRA 137- 6  
  Edera Gentile-Cordiale, ITA 135-01/2  
  Jacqueline Mazeas, FRA 132-9  
Javelin Herma Bauma, AUT 149- 6  
  Kaisa Parviainen, FIN 143-8  
  Lily Carlstedt, DEN 140-61/2  
Note: Coachman and Dorothy Odam of Britain tied for 1st place, but Coachman was awarded gold medal for making height on first try.

1952

1952 Olympics – Helsinki

The Soviet Union returned to the Olympic fold in 1952 after a 40-year absence, a period of time that included a revolution and two world wars. Ironically, the Soviets chose to make their comeback in Finland, a country they had invaded twice during World War II.

This time it was the United States that was surprised by the Soviets, and the USA had to scramble on the last day of competition to hold off the USSR’s assault on first place in the overall standings. It was the beginning of an all-consuming 36-year Cold War rivalry.

Despite the Soviets’ impressive debut, it was a Communist from another Iron Curtain country who turned in the most memorable individual performance of the Games. Emil Zátopek of Czechoslovakia, the 10,000-meter champion in London, not only repeated at 10,000 meters, but also won at 5,000 and in the marathon–an event he had never run before. He also set Olympic records in each race and topped it off by watching his wife Dana Zátopková win the women’s javelin.

Zátopek’s unique triple was wildly applauded by the distance-minded Finns, but their greatest outburst came in the opening ceremonies when legendary countryman Paavo Nurmi, now 56, ran into the stadium with the Olympic torch and handed it off to another native legend Hannes Kolehmainen, now 62, who lit the flame to start the Games.

Also, Harrison Dillard of the U.S. won the 110-meter hurdles. In 1948, Dillard, the world’s best hurdler, failed to qualify for the hurdles and won the 100-meter dash instead.

Men

Event   Time  
 100m Lindy Remigino, USA 10.4  
  Herbert McKenley, JAM 10.4  
  Emmanuel McDonald-Bailey, GBR 10.4  
 200m Andy Stanfield, USA 20.7  
  Thane Baker, USA 20.8  
  James Gathers, USA 20.8  
 400m George Rhoden, JAM 45.9 OR
  Herbert McKenley, JAM 45.9  
  Ollie Matson, USA 46.8  
 800m Mal Whitfield, USA 1:49.2 =OR
  Arthur Wint, JAM 1:49.4  
  Heinz Ulzheimer, GER 1:49.7  
1500m Josy Barthel, LUX 3:45.1 OR
  Bob McMillen, USA 3:45.2  
  Werner Lueg, GER 3:45.4  
5000m Emil Zátopek, CZE 14:06.6 OR
  Alain Mimoun, FRA 14:07.4  
  Herbert Schade, GER 14:08.6  
10,000m Emil Zátopek, CZE 29:17.0 OR
  Alain Mimoun, FRA 29:32.8  
  Alexander Anufriyev, USSR 29:48.2  
Marathon Emil Zátopek, CZE 2:23:03.2 OR
  Reinaldo Gorno, ARG 2:25:35.0  
  Gustaf Jansson, SWE 2:26:07.0  
110m H Harrison Dillard, USA 13.7 OR
  Jack Davis, USA 13.7  
  Arthur Barnard, USA 14.1  
400m H Charley Moore, USA 50.8 OR
  Yuriy Lituyev, USSR 51.3  
  John Holland, NZL 52.2  
3000m
Steeple		 Horace Ashenfelter, USA 8:45.4 WR
  Vladimir Kazantsev, USSR 8:51.6  
  John Disley, GBR 8:51.8  
10k Walk John Mikaelsson, SWE 45:02.8 OR
  Fritz Schwab, SWI 45:41.0  
  Bruno Yunk, USSR 45:41.0  
50k Walk Giuseppe Dordoni, ITA 4:28:07.8 OR
  Josef Dolezal, CZE 4:30:17.8  
  Antal Róka, HUN 4:31:27.2  
4x100m USA (Dean Smith, Harrison Dillard,
Lindy Remigino,Andy Stanfield)		 40.1  
  Soviet Union 40.3  
  Hungary 40.5  
4x400m JAM (Arthur Wint, Leslie Laing, Herb
McKenley, George Rhoden)		 3:03.9 WR
  United States 3:04.0  
  Germany 3:06.6  
Event   Mark  
High Jump Walt Davis, USA 6- 81/2 OR
  Ken Wiesner, USA 6-7  
  J.Telles da Conceiceião, BRA 6-6  
Pole Vault Bob Richards, USA 14-11 OR
  Donald Laz, USA 14-9  
  Ragnar Lundberg, SWE 14-5  
Long Jump Jerome Biffle, USA 24-10  
  Meredith Gourdine, USA 24-81/4  
  Ödön Földessy, HUN 23-111/4  
Triple Jump Adhemar da Silva, BRA 53- 23/4 WR
  Leonid Shcherbakov, USSR 52-5  
  Arnoldo Devonish, VEN 50-11  
Shot Put Parry O’Brien, USA 57- 11/2 OR
  Darrow Hooper, USA 57-01/2  
  Jim Fuchs, USA 55-111/2  
Discus Sim Iness, USA 180- 6 OR
  Adolfo Consolini, ITA 176-5  
  James Dillion, USA 174-91/2  
Hammer József Csermák, HUN 197-11 WR
  Karl Storch, GER 193-1  
  Imre Németh, HUN 189-5  
Javelin Cy Young, USA 242- 1 OR
  William Miller, USA 237-81/2  
  Toivo Hyytiäinen, FIN 235-10  
Decathlon Bob Mathias, USA 7887 pts WR
  Milton Campbell, USA 6975  
  Floyd Simmons, USA 6788  

Women

Event   Time  
 100m Marjorie Jackson, AUS 11.5 WR
  Daphne Hasenjager-Robb, S. Afr. 11.8  
  Shirley Strickland, AUS 11.9  
 200m Marjorie Jackson, AUS 23.7  
  Bertha Brouwer, NED 24.2  
  Nadyezda Khnykhina, USSR 24.2  
80m H Shirley Strickland, AUS 10.9 WR
  Maria Golubnichaya, USSR 11.1  
  Maria Sander, GER 11.1  
4x100m USA (Mae Faggs, Barbara Jones,
Janet Moreau, Catherine Hardy)		 45.9 WR
  Germany 45.9  
  Great Britain 46.2  
Event   Mark  
High Jump Esther Brand, S.Afr. 5- 53/4  
  Sheila Lerwill, GBR 5-5  
  Aleksandra Chudina, USSR 5-4  
Long Jump Yvette Williams, NZE 20- 53/4 OR
  Aleksandra Chudina, USSR 20-11/2  
  Shirley Cawley, GBR 19-5  
Shot Put Galina Zybina, USSR 50- 13/4 WR
  Marianne Werner, GER 47-91/2  
  Klavdiya Tochenova, USSR 47-63/4  
Discus Nina Romaschkova, USSR 168- 8 OR
  Elizaveta Bagriantseva, USSR 154-51/2  
  Nina Dumbadze, USSR 170-8  
Javelin Dana Zátopková, CZE 165- 7  
  Aleksandra Chudina, USSR 164-01/2  
  Yelena Gorchakova, USSR 163-3  

1956

1956 Olympics – Melbourne

Armed conflicts in Egypt and Hungary threatened to disrupt the 1956 Games, which were scheduled to begin on Nov. 22 (during the summer Down Under).

In July, Egypt seized the Suez Canal from British and French control. In October, Britain and France invaded Egypt in an attempt to retake the canal. Then in November, Soviet tanks rolled into Hungary to crush an anti-Communist revolt.

The only direct bearing these events had in Melbourne came when the Soviet water polo team met the Hungarians in the semifinals. Hungary won 4-0, but the match turned ugly after a Hungarian player was pulled bleeding from the pool with a deep gash over his eye from a Soviet head butt. A brawl quickly ensued involving both players and spectators and the police had to step in to prevent a riot.

Otherwise, the Soviets outmedaled the U.S. for the first time, cleaning up in gymnastics and winning their first track and field titles when Vladimir Kuts ran off with the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

The American men won 15 track and field titles, including three golds for sprinter Bobby Morrow and Al Oerter’s first victory in the discus.

Harold Connolly of the U.S. won the hammer throw and the heart of the women’s discus champion, Olga Fikotová of Czechoslovakia. Their romance captured the imagination of the world and three months after the Games they were married.

Emil Zátopek, the Czech hero of Helsinki, returned to defend his marathon title but came in sixth. Winner Alain Mimoun of France had finished second to Zátopek three times in previous Olympic races.

Men

Event   Time  
 100m Bobby Morrow, USA 10.5  
  Thane Baker, USA 10.5  
  Hector Hogan, AUS 10.6  
 200m Bobby Morrow, USA 20.6 OR
  Andrew Stanfield, USA 20.7  
  Thane Baker, USA 20.9  
 400m Charley Jenkins, USA 46.7  
  Karl-Friedrich Haas, GER 46.8  
  Voitto Hellsten, FIN / Ardalion Ignatiev 47.0  
 800m Tom Courtney, USA 1:47.7 OR
  Derek Johnson, GBR 1:47.8  
  Andun Boysen, NOR 1:48.1  
1500m Ron Delany, IRE 3:41.2 OR
  Klaus Richtzenhain, GER 3:42.0  
  John Landy, AUS 3:48.1  
5000m Vladimir Kuts, USSR 13:39.6 OR
  Gordon Pirie, GBR 13:50.6  
  Derek Ibbotson, GBR 13:54.4  
10,000m Vladimir Kuts, USSR 28:45.6 OR
  József Kovács, HUN 28:52.4  
  Allan Lawrence, AUS 28:53.6  
Marathon Alain Mimoun, FRA 2:25:00.0  
  Franjo Mihalic, YUG 2:26:32.0  
  Veikko Karvonen, FIN 2:27:47.0  
110m H Lee Calhoun, USA 13.5 OR
  Jack Davis, USA 13..5  
  Joel Shankle, USA 14.1  
400m H Glenn Davis, USA 50.1 =OR
  Eddie Southern, USA 50.8  
  Joshua Culbreath, USA 51.6  
3000m
Steeple		 Chris Brasher, GBR 8:41.2 OR
  Sándor Rozsnyói, HUN 8:43.6  
  Ernst Larsen, NOR 8:44.0  
20k Walk Leonid Spirin, USSR 1:31:27.4  
  Antonas Mikenas, USSR 1:32:03.0  
  Bruno Yunk, USSR 1:32:12.0  
50k Walk Norman Read, NZE 4:30:42.8  
  Yevgeniy Maskinskov, USSR 4:32:57.0  
  John Lundgren, SWE 4:35:02.0  
4x100m USA (Ira Murchison, Leamon King,
Thane Baker, Bobby Morrow)		 39.5 WR
  Soviet Union 39.8  
  Germany 40.3  
4x400m USA (Lou Jones, Jesse
Mashburn, Charlie Jenkins,
Tom Courtney)		 3:04.8  
  Australia 3:06.2  
  Great Britain 3:07.2  
Event   Mark  
High Jump Charley Dumas, USA 6-111/2 OR
  Charles Porter, AUS 6-101/2  
  Igor Kashkarov, USSR 6-93/4  
Pole Vault Bob Richards, USA 14-111/2 OR
  Bob Gutowski, USA 14-101/4  
  Georgios Roubanis, GRE 14-9  
Long Jump Greg Bell, USA 25- 81/4  
  John Bennett, USA 25-21/4  
  Jorma Valkama, FIN 24-61/4  
Triple Jump Adhemar da Silva, BRA 53- 73/4 OR
  Vilhjálmur Einarsson, ISL 53-4  
  Vitold Kreyer, USSR 52-61/2  
Shot Put Parry O’Brien, USA 60-111/4 OR
  Bill Nieder, USA 59-71/2  
  Jiri Skobla, CZE 57-103/4  
Discus Al Oerter, USA 184-11 OR
  Fortune Gordien, USA 179-91/2  
  Desmond Koch, USA 178-51/2  
Hammer Harold Connolly, USA 207- 3 OR
  Michail Krivonosov, USSR 206-9  
  Anatoliy Samotsvetov, USSR 205-3  
Javelin Egil Danielson, NOR 281- 2 WR
  Janusz Sidlo, POL 262-4  
  Viktor Tsibulenko, USSR 260-10  
Decathlon Milt Campbell, USA 7937 pts OR
  Rafer Johnson, USA 7587  
  Vassily Kusnetsov, USSR 7465  

Women

Event   Time  
 100m Betty Cuthbert, AUS 11.5  
  Christa Stubnick, GER 11.7  
  Marlene Matthews, AUS 11.7  
 200m Betty Cuthbert, AUS 23.4 =OR
  Christa Stubnick, GER 23.7  
  Marlene Matthews, AUS 23.8  
 80m H Shirley Strickland, AUS 10.7 OR
  Gisela Köhler, GER 10.9  
  Norma Thrower, AUS 11.0  
4x100m AUS (Shirley Strickland, Norma Croker,
Fleur Mellor, Betty Cuthbert)		 44.5 WR
  Great Britain 44.7  
  United States 44.9  
Event   Mark  
High Jump Mildred McDaniel, USA 5- 91/4 WR
  Maria Pisaryeva, USSR 5-51/2  
  Thelma Hopkins, GBR 5-51/2  
Long Jump Elzbieta Krzesinska, POL 20-10 =WR
  Willye White, USA 19-113/4  
  Nadyezda Dvalishvili, USSR 19-103/4  
Shot Put Tamara Tyshkevich, USSR 54- 5 OR
  Galina Zybina, USSR 54-23/4  
  Marianne Werner, GER 51-21/2  
Discus Olga Fikotová, CZE 176- 1 OR
  Irina Beglyakova, USSR 172-41/2  
  Nina Ponomaryeva, USSR 170-8  
Javelin Inese Jaunzeme, USSR 176- 8  
  Marlene Ahrens, CHI 165-3  
  Nadyezda Konyayeva, USSR 164-111/2  

1960

1960 Olympics – Rome

Free of political entanglements, save the ruling that Nationalist China had to compete as Formosa, the 1960 Games attracted a record 5,348 athletes from 83 countries. More importantly, it was the first Summer Games covered by U.S. television. CBS bought the rights for $394,000.

Rome was a coming-out party for 18-year-old Louisville boxer Cassius Clay. The brash but engaging Clay, who would later change his name to Muhammad Ali and hold the world heavyweight title three times, won the Olympic light heavyweight crown, pummeling Polish opponent Zbigniew Pietryskowsky in the final. Clay was so proud of his gold medal that he didn’t take it off for two days.

Sprinter Wilma Rudolph and swimmer Chris von Saltza each won three gold medals for the U.S. Rudolph, who was one of her father’s 22 children and who couldn’t walk without braces until she was nine, struck gold at 100 and 200 meters and anchored the winning 400-meter relay team. Von Saltza won the 400-meter freestyle, placed second in the 100-free and anchored the winning 4×100-free and medley relays.

The U.S. men won nine track and field titles, including repeat gold medals for Lee Calhoun, Glenn Davis and Al Oerter. Rafer Johnson and C.K. Yang of Formosa, college teammates at UCLA, finished 1-2 in the decathlon.

Among the other stars in Rome were barefoot Ethiopian marathoner Abebe Bikila, Australia’s Herb Elliott in the 1,500 meters, Soviet gymnasts Boris Shakhlin and Larissa Latynina.

Finally, the greatest amateur basketball team ever assembled represented the U.S. and won easily. The 12-man roster included Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Jerry Lucas, Walt Bellamy and Terry Dischinger–four of whom would become NBA Rookies of the Year from 1961-64.

Men

Event   Time  
 100m Armin Hary, GER 10.2 OR
  David Sime, USA 10.2  
  Peter Radford, GBR 10.3  
 200m Livio Berruti, ITA 20.5 =WR
  Lester Carney, USA 20.6  
  Abdoulaye Seye, FRA 20.7  
 400m Otis Davis, USA 44.9 WR
  Carl Kaufmann, GER 44.9  
  Malcolm Spence, S. Afr. 45.5  
 800m Peter Snell, NZE 1:46.3 OR
  Roger Moens, BEL 1:46.5  
  George Kerr, ANT 1:47.1  
1500m Herb Elliott, AUS 3:35.6 WR
  Michel Jazy, FRA 3:38.4  
  Istvan Rozsavölgyi, HUN 3:39.2  
5000m Murray Halberg, NZE 13:43.4  
  Hans Grodotzki, GER 13:44.6  
  Kasimierz Zimny, POL 13:44.8  
10,000m Pyotr Bolotnikov, USSR 28:32.2 OR
  Hans Grodotzki, GER 28:37.0  
  David Power, AUS 28:38.2  
Marathon Abebe Bikila, ETH 2:15:16.2 WB
  Rhadi Ben Abdesselam, MOR 2:15:41.6  
  Barry Magee, NZL 2:17:18.2  
110m H Lee Calhoun, USA 13.8  
  Willie May, USA 13.8  
  Hayes Jones, USA 14.0  
400m H Glenn Davis, USA 49.3 =OR
  Clifton Cushman, USA 49.6  
  Richard Howard, USA 49.7  
3000m
Steeple		 Zdzislaw Krzyszkowiak, POL 8:34.2 OR
  Nikolai Sokolov, USSR 8:36.4  
  Semyon Rischtschin, USSR 8:42.2  
20k Walk Vladimir Golubnichiy, USSR 1:34:07.2  
  Noel Freeman, AUS 1:34:16.4  
  Stanley Vickers, GBR 1:34:56.4  
50k Walk Don Thompson, GBR 4:25:30.0 OR
  John Ljunggren, SWE 4:25:47.0  
  Abdon Panich, ITA 4:27:55.4  
4x100m GER (Bernd Cullmann, Armin
Hary, Walter Mahlendorf,
Martin Lauer)		 39.5 =WR
  Soviet Union 40.1  
  Great Britain 40.2  
4x400m USA (Jack Yerman, Earl Young,
Glenn Davis, Otis Davis)		 3:02.2 WR
  Germany 3:02.7  
  Antilles 3:04.0  
Event   Mark  
High Jump Robert Shavlakadze, USSR 7- 1 OR
  Valeriy Brumel, USSR 7-1  
  John Thomas, USA 7-01/4  
Pole Vault Don Bragg, USA 15- 5 OR
  Ron Morris, USA 15-1  
  Eeles Landström, FIN 14-11  
Long Jump Ralph Boston, USA 26- 73/4 OR
  Irvin Roberson, USA 26-71/4  
  Igor Ter-Ovanesian, USSR 26-41/2  
Triple Jump Józef Schmidt, POL 55- 2  
  Vladimir Goryayev, USSR 54-61/4  
  Vitold Kreyer, USSR 53-103/4  
Shot Put Bill Nieder, USA 64- 63/4 OR
  Parry O’Brien, USA 62-81/4  
  Dallas Long, USA 62-41/4  
Discus Al Oerter, USA 194- 2 OR
  Richard Babka, USA 190-4  
  Dick Cochran, USA 187-6  
Hammer Vasily Rudenkov, USSR 220- 2 OR
  Gyula Zsivotzky, HUN 215-10  
  Tadeusz Rut, POL 215-4  
Javelin Viktor Tsibulenko, USSR 277- 8  
  Walter Krüger, GER 260-4  
  Gergely Kulcsar, HUN 257-9  
Decathlon Rafer Johnson, USA 8392 pts OR
  Chuan-Kwang Yang, TPE 8334  
  Vassily Kusnetsov, USSR 7809  

Women

Event   Time  
 100m Wilma Rudolph, USA 11.0w  
  Dorothy Hyman, GBR 11.3  
  Giuseppina Leone, ITA 11.3  
 200m Wilma Rudolph, USA 24.0   
  Jutta Heine, GER 24.4  
  Dorothy Hyman, GBR 24.7  
 800m Lyudmila Shevtsova, USSR 2:04.3  =WR
  Brenda Jones, AUS 2:04.4  
  Ursula Donath, GER 2:05.6  
 80m H Irina Press, USSR 10.8   
  Carol Quinton, GBR 10.9  
  Gisela Birkemeyer-Köhler, GER 11.0  
4x100m USA (Martha Hudson, Lucinda
Williams, Barbara Jones,
Wilma Rudolph)		 44.5   
  Germany 44.8  
  Poland 45.0  
w indicates wind-aided.
Event   Mark  
High Jump Iolanda Balas, ROM 6- 03/4 OR
  Jaroslawa Jozwiakowska, POL / Dorothy Shirley, GBR 5-71/4  
Long Jump Vyera Krepkina, USSR 20-103/4 OR
  Elzbieta Krzesinska, POL 20-63/4  
  Hildrun Claus, GER 20-41/4  
Shot Put Tamara Press, USSR 56-10 OR
  Johanna Lüttge, GER 54-53/4  
  Earlene Brown, USA 53-103/4  
Discus Nina R. Ponomaryeva, USSR 180- 9 OR
  Tamara Press, USSR 172-6  
  Lia Manoliu, ROM 171-9  
Javelin Elvira Ozolina, USSR 183- 8 OR
  Dana Zátopková, CZE 176-5  
  Birute Kalediena, USSR 175-4
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